Color Success

PPG global color show a first for Southeast Asia

PPG’s automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coatings facilities in Malaysia and Thailand hosted the company’s 2014-2015 Global Color Show, “ELEMENTS,” for major automotive manufacturers in their countries. These events represented the first time that PPG’s global color show has been held in Southeast Asia (SEA).

PPG Coatings (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd, in Petaling Jaya, and PPG Coatings (Thailand) Co. Ltd., in A. Bangsaothong, hosted the event to help customers make color decisions that will be popular with consumers in coming years. PPG’s color experts analyze design trends, consumer preferences and priorities across regional, cultural and global markets to determine factors that will influence future color choices.

“Southeast Asia is a fast-growing market for automotive manufacturers,” said Jane Harrington-Durst, automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) global color styling manager. “The show gives them an inside track with respect to color trends specific to the region.”

The 2014-2015 show represents colors PPG developed for the automotive market’s 2017-2018 models. Most OEMs develop their color programs two to three years ahead. PPG’s color styling team conducted research in SEA – another first for the area – to understand regional color trends.

“We are seeing an increase in the popularity of natural colors like orange, gold, yellow and brown for SEA,” said Harrington-Durst. “The show included 16 natural colors with names like Copper, Summer Gold and Lava Orange.”

The show initially was presented to PROTON and Perodua, Malaysia’s top OEMs, and to PPG’s local affiliates. Presentations were conducted next for Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd. and Honda Thailand. A global color show inaugural address was delivered in Malaysia by Scott Follett, general manager, automotive OEM coatings, SEA, and in Thailand by Joseph Carvalho, technical director, South Asia OEM coatings.

PPG’s local affiliates across strategic business units and customers’ styling, design, purchasing, marketing and engineering departments all contributed to the success of the show. Global color shows are conducted annually for PPG automotive customers around the world.